Mae Young wrestled for her high school boys' wrestling team

The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Famer was a wrestling icon who helped women break into the sport. Here are five things you should know about ‘The Great Mae Young.’

She started wrestling at age 15 – Mae Young joined her high school boys’ wrestling team at age 15 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and never looked back. She began her professional wrestling career in 1939,

The ‘Bronco Buster’ – Her signature move was the ‘Bronco Buster’ which consisted of jumping up and down a seated opponent’s chest in a borderline sexual way.

A true pioneer – Mae Young and other women were able to break into the sport as professional male wrestlers were off fighting in World War II. She toured post-war Japan in 1954 with other female wrestlers.

A great coach – After her wrestling career was over, Mae Young became a coach for longtime friend Lillian Ellison. Also known as ‘The Fabulous Moolah,’ Ellison became one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time. She died in 2007.

WWE Hall of Fame – Ellison became the first female member of the WWE Hall of Fame. She was soon followed by Mae Young who was inducted in 2008.